GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (18-18, 7-5 B1G) at Maryland (23-14, 6-3 B1G)
Friday to Sunday, April 21-23
Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium / College Park, Maryland
Series Opener: Friday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET on B1G+
Middle Game: Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+
Series Finale: Sunday, April 23 at Noon ET on ESPNU
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. UMD's Jason Savacool (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. TBA for UMD
Sunday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. UMD's Kyle McCoy (Fr, LHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Maryland leads 12-4
All-Time in College Park: UMD leads 5-4
2022: UMD swept a 2-game set (May 19-20 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in College Park: UMD swept a 3-game set (May 2021)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. UMD: Swept a 3-game set in College Park (April 2018)
First Meeting: UMD 11, Purdue 1 (February 2012 in Greenville, N.C.)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's final out-of-state road trip of the Big Ten season brings the Boilermakers back to the East Coast as the second half of the conference schedule opens with a three-game series at Maryland.
First pitch at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium in College Park is slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. The series finale will be nationally televised by ESPNU and streaming on the ESPN app.
The Boilermakers have won a season-high four consecutive games and three straight Big Ten series. They're back at .500 for the season at 18-18. Five years ago, Purdue flew to Maryland for the weekend of April 18-20 with a 16-16 record (4-4 in Big Ten). The Boilermakers swept the series. It led to a 13-game win streak and 21-2 stretch through May 26 that propelled the program into an NCAA Regional.
While duplicating those feats may be unrealistic, winning a fourth straight Big Ten series is certainly an achievable feat that would keep this year's team trending in the right direction. Purdue's starting pitching has been very consistent over the last four weekends and should remain a pivotal piece of the puzzle as the schedule firms up – playing three of the top four teams in the current standings – over the second half of the Big Ten season.
Khal Stephen, Jonathan Blackwell and Kyle Iwinski have teamed up for a 3.84 ERA and .263 batting average against in 68 innings, racking up 53 strikeouts vs. 15 walks. Toss out Iwinski's rough first inning April 9 at Minnesota and the three runs that scored in the seventh inning after Blackwell left the mound April 15 vs. Penn State and the rotation's collective ERA improves to 2.69 in 67 innings in Big Ten play.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Connor Caskenette – 14-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Jake Parr – 10-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Paul Toetz – 8-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak
• Jonathan Blackwell – Pitched at least 5 innings in 9 consecutive starts
PARR'S 10-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 15-for-34 (.441/.513/.765), 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 7 R, SB
CASKENETTE'S 14-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since March 26)
• 16-for-49 (.327/.411/.592), 4 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 4 BB, 3 HBP, 8 R
PURDUE'S ALL-TIME LEADERS IN STOLEN BASES
1.) Dave Scheitlin (1988-91) – 70
2.) Jeff Allison (1984-87) – 69
3.) Mike Bolton Jr. (2020-Pr) – 67
4.) Chris Walker (1997-00) – 60
5.) Chris Detrick (1978-81) – 57
CONSECUTIVE 20-STEAL SEASONS
• Dave Scheitlin – 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• Jeff Allison – 23 in 1986, 33 in 1987 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 28 in 2022, 21 in 2023 /// 2-Year Total: 49
• Chris Detrick – 21 in 1980, 25 in 1981 /// 2-Year Total: 46
• Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999 /// 2-Year Total: 41
MORE ABOUT MARYLAND
• Maryland is the defending Big Ten champion, clinching the conference title at Alexander Field during the final weekend of the regular last season in its first appearance in West Lafayette since April 2015. As the league's preseason favorite this year, the Terrapins have won six straight weekend series since starting the season 4-7. Maryland has not lost a Big Ten series since April 2021 at Nebraska and hasn't dropped a traditional three-game series at home since May 2019 vs. Michigan. That extended excellence on weekends is a big reason why the Terps have earned an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional each of the last two seasons.
WEEKEND #5 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (7-5) at Maryland (6-3)
• Michigan State (6-3) at Michigan (7-5)
• Rutgers (4-5) at Northwestern (3-6)
• Minnesota (4-5) at Illinois (4-8)
• Ohio State (3-9) at Penn State (2-7)
• Nebraska (7-2) at Iowa (4-5)
• Ohio at Indiana (9-3) – Non-Conference
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 2nd in Steals (21), T-3rd in Triples (3), T-4th in Sac Bunts (4), T-5th in HBP (11)
• Couper Cornblum – 3rd in Steals (17), T-3rd in Sac Bunts (5)
• Jake Parr – T-3rd in Triples (3)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Sac Bunts (5), 10th in Steals (11)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 4th in Innings (50)
• Paul Toetz – 5th in RBI (44)
• Kyle Iwinski – T-5th in ERA (3.27)
• Aaron Suval – T-6th in Saves (4)
• Jake Jarvis – T-7th in HBP (10)
COMBINED RECORDS FOR PURDUE'S OPPONENTS (As of April 20)
• First Half of Big Ten Play: 59-73, 15-21 Big Ten
…Michigan State (23-11, 6-3), Northwestern (6-25, 3-6), Minnesota (10-24, 4-5), Penn State (20-13, 2-7)
• Second Half of Big Ten Play: 92-52-1, 26-13
…Maryland (23-14, 6-3), Rutgers (21-16, 4-5), Indiana (27-11, 9-3), Nebraska (21-11-1, 7-2)
BOILERMAKERS OUT TO REVERSE RECENT TRENDS VS. UPCOMING BIG TEN FOES
• Maryland (April 21-23 in College Park): The Terrapins have won 11 of the 15 meetings since joining the Big Ten, including five straight the last two years. Purdue's three-game sweep in College Park in April 2018 remains its only series victory vs. UMD.
• Rutgers (April 28-30 at Alexander Field): The Scarlet Knights have won nine of the 16 meetings since joining the Big Ten in 2015, including five of the last seven since 2019. Purdue's three-game sweep at Alexander in April 2018 remains its only series victory vs. Rutgers.
• Indiana (May 12-14 in Bloomington): Since 2007, the Boilermakers have won 17 of the last 22 meetings with their rivals away from Bloomington. But IU has enjoyed a decided edge when it's the home team, winning 12 of the 14 meetings since Bart Kaufman Field opened in 2013 and 16 of 21 in Bloomington since 2007.
• Nebraska (May 18-20 at Alexander Field): The Huskers are one of two Big Ten teams that is unbeaten at Alexander Field, sweeping series in 2013 and 2016. Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2012, both of Purdue series victories vs. the Huskers have come in Lincoln. Nebraska has won 10 of the last 11 meetings since 2016.
Purdue (18-18, 7-5 B1G) at Maryland (23-14, 6-3 B1G)
Friday to Sunday, April 21-23
Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium / College Park, Maryland
Series Opener: Friday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET on B1G+
Middle Game: Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+
Series Finale: Sunday, April 23 at Noon ET on ESPNU
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. UMD's Jason Savacool (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. TBA for UMD
Sunday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. UMD's Kyle McCoy (Fr, LHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Maryland leads 12-4
All-Time in College Park: UMD leads 5-4
2022: UMD swept a 2-game set (May 19-20 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in College Park: UMD swept a 3-game set (May 2021)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. UMD: Swept a 3-game set in College Park (April 2018)
First Meeting: UMD 11, Purdue 1 (February 2012 in Greenville, N.C.)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's final out-of-state road trip of the Big Ten season brings the Boilermakers back to the East Coast as the second half of the conference schedule opens with a three-game series at Maryland.
First pitch at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium in College Park is slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. The series finale will be nationally televised by ESPNU and streaming on the ESPN app.
The Boilermakers have won a season-high four consecutive games and three straight Big Ten series. They're back at .500 for the season at 18-18. Five years ago, Purdue flew to Maryland for the weekend of April 18-20 with a 16-16 record (4-4 in Big Ten). The Boilermakers swept the series. It led to a 13-game win streak and 21-2 stretch through May 26 that propelled the program into an NCAA Regional.
While duplicating those feats may be unrealistic, winning a fourth straight Big Ten series is certainly an achievable feat that would keep this year's team trending in the right direction. Purdue's starting pitching has been very consistent over the last four weekends and should remain a pivotal piece of the puzzle as the schedule firms up – playing three of the top four teams in the current standings – over the second half of the Big Ten season.
Khal Stephen, Jonathan Blackwell and Kyle Iwinski have teamed up for a 3.84 ERA and .263 batting average against in 68 innings, racking up 53 strikeouts vs. 15 walks. Toss out Iwinski's rough first inning April 9 at Minnesota and the three runs that scored in the seventh inning after Blackwell left the mound April 15 vs. Penn State and the rotation's collective ERA improves to 2.69 in 67 innings in Big Ten play.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Connor Caskenette – 14-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Jake Parr – 10-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Paul Toetz – 8-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak
• Jonathan Blackwell – Pitched at least 5 innings in 9 consecutive starts
PARR'S 10-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 15-for-34 (.441/.513/.765), 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 7 R, SB
CASKENETTE'S 14-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since March 26)
• 16-for-49 (.327/.411/.592), 4 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 4 BB, 3 HBP, 8 R
PURDUE'S ALL-TIME LEADERS IN STOLEN BASES
1.) Dave Scheitlin (1988-91) – 70
2.) Jeff Allison (1984-87) – 69
3.) Mike Bolton Jr. (2020-Pr) – 67
4.) Chris Walker (1997-00) – 60
5.) Chris Detrick (1978-81) – 57
CONSECUTIVE 20-STEAL SEASONS
• Dave Scheitlin – 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• Jeff Allison – 23 in 1986, 33 in 1987 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 28 in 2022, 21 in 2023 /// 2-Year Total: 49
• Chris Detrick – 21 in 1980, 25 in 1981 /// 2-Year Total: 46
• Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999 /// 2-Year Total: 41
MORE ABOUT MARYLAND
• Maryland is the defending Big Ten champion, clinching the conference title at Alexander Field during the final weekend of the regular last season in its first appearance in West Lafayette since April 2015. As the league's preseason favorite this year, the Terrapins have won six straight weekend series since starting the season 4-7. Maryland has not lost a Big Ten series since April 2021 at Nebraska and hasn't dropped a traditional three-game series at home since May 2019 vs. Michigan. That extended excellence on weekends is a big reason why the Terps have earned an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional each of the last two seasons.
WEEKEND #5 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (7-5) at Maryland (6-3)
• Michigan State (6-3) at Michigan (7-5)
• Rutgers (4-5) at Northwestern (3-6)
• Minnesota (4-5) at Illinois (4-8)
• Ohio State (3-9) at Penn State (2-7)
• Nebraska (7-2) at Iowa (4-5)
• Ohio at Indiana (9-3) – Non-Conference
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 2nd in Steals (21), T-3rd in Triples (3), T-4th in Sac Bunts (4), T-5th in HBP (11)
• Couper Cornblum – 3rd in Steals (17), T-3rd in Sac Bunts (5)
• Jake Parr – T-3rd in Triples (3)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Sac Bunts (5), 10th in Steals (11)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 4th in Innings (50)
• Paul Toetz – 5th in RBI (44)
• Kyle Iwinski – T-5th in ERA (3.27)
• Aaron Suval – T-6th in Saves (4)
• Jake Jarvis – T-7th in HBP (10)
COMBINED RECORDS FOR PURDUE'S OPPONENTS (As of April 20)
• First Half of Big Ten Play: 59-73, 15-21 Big Ten
…Michigan State (23-11, 6-3), Northwestern (6-25, 3-6), Minnesota (10-24, 4-5), Penn State (20-13, 2-7)
• Second Half of Big Ten Play: 92-52-1, 26-13
…Maryland (23-14, 6-3), Rutgers (21-16, 4-5), Indiana (27-11, 9-3), Nebraska (21-11-1, 7-2)
BOILERMAKERS OUT TO REVERSE RECENT TRENDS VS. UPCOMING BIG TEN FOES
• Maryland (April 21-23 in College Park): The Terrapins have won 11 of the 15 meetings since joining the Big Ten, including five straight the last two years. Purdue's three-game sweep in College Park in April 2018 remains its only series victory vs. UMD.
• Rutgers (April 28-30 at Alexander Field): The Scarlet Knights have won nine of the 16 meetings since joining the Big Ten in 2015, including five of the last seven since 2019. Purdue's three-game sweep at Alexander in April 2018 remains its only series victory vs. Rutgers.
• Indiana (May 12-14 in Bloomington): Since 2007, the Boilermakers have won 17 of the last 22 meetings with their rivals away from Bloomington. But IU has enjoyed a decided edge when it's the home team, winning 12 of the 14 meetings since Bart Kaufman Field opened in 2013 and 16 of 21 in Bloomington since 2007.
• Nebraska (May 18-20 at Alexander Field): The Huskers are one of two Big Ten teams that is unbeaten at Alexander Field, sweeping series in 2013 and 2016. Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2012, both of Purdue series victories vs. the Huskers have come in Lincoln. Nebraska has won 10 of the last 11 meetings since 2016.